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Palestinian terrorist groups routinely call for the abduction of Israeli civilians and soldiers, noting that the Jewish state has proven its willingness to trade hundreds of jailed Arab terrorists for a single captive Jew.

It is believed that if the three were indeed kidnapped, then the perpetrators will try to move their victims to the Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces would have a much more difficult time conducting rescue operations.

To avoid that scenario, Israel has closed highways throughout southern Israel and set up checkpoints to deter attempts to transfer the youths.

In response to that, Hamas has issued a public call for its activists and armed forces to do everything possible to obstruct Israeli military efforts.

Judging by Arab media footage broadcast by Channel 2, its not only armed gunmen answering the Hamas call. Mobs of Palestinian youth could be seen in the streets stoning the Israeli soldiers that are searching for the three missing yeshiva students.

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